Abstract
The mechanism of strain-ratcheting during power cycling, with sometimes a resultant clad failure, has clearly been demonstrated in Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR) experiments. The authors cannot find any good reason why the same mechanism should not operate in water reactors, although to a different extent. The SLEUTH-SEER computer code is used in the UK to predict the extent of strain-ratcheting in water reactors. The results of these calculations indicate that clad failures are likely, at least for some fuel designs, in a Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) which is subject to daily power reductions throughout the fuel life. In the absence of data from fuel cycled throughout life and then carefully sectioned to measure local wall thinning, it has not been possible to check the SLEUTH-SEER predictions for PWR fuel, as has been done for AGR fuel. The need for such data is evident.
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